She claimed Christmas decorations can and should be kept up until July.

The singer, whose biggest track is arguably All I Want For Christmas Is You, tweeted celeb pal Ryan Seacrest after he asked when it is "appropriate" to take down one's tree and lights.

Referring to Independence Day in the US, the trouble-making star wrote "Dahhling! Not till July 4th!" - and she immediately divided the internet.

Mariah, who is the music industry's patron saint of Christmas and regularly poses for festive social media snaps, did have some of her most loyal fans agreeing with her.

Christmas nuts reluctant to bid farewell to the festival also thanked the singer for sticking up for it, with one writing: "Mariah Carey tells you to keep your tree up till July 4th, you keep your tree up till July 4th."

But others were more Grinch-like, saying they'd already taken their tree down by December 28 this year.